Mina the Hollower is the best old-school action adventure I've played in a while
Smooth movement, compelling combat, and tons of secrets make for an innovative throwback.
Modern Legend of Zelda games like Breath of the Wild are built around Link's ability to run, climb, and jump with the best of them. In old-school, top-down Zelda titles, though, the ability to increase Link's sad starting mobility was a banner event. Finding items like the speed-enhancing Pegasus Boots in Link to the Past or the jump-granting Roc's Feather in Link's Awakening made the methodical exploration in these games feel that much more kinetic and akin to a top-down platform game.
This kind of kinetic feeling is built into Mina the Hollower from the start. As the titular, mouse-like Hollower, you're armed with the ability to jump up and burrow into soft soil, zipping under obstacles and past enemies with satisfying pep as you do. After a short sojourn underground, you pop out with an extended jump that quickly becomes second nature.
The sense of energy and verve built in to this simple movement system makes Mina a joy to control. You feel that joy when you burrow away from an enemy attack only to quickly circle back to pop out for a quick counter. You feel it burrowing underneath the scenery through a small hole to uncover a labyrinthine secret corridor. You feel it hopping and bouncing across a series of gaps on inflatable, balloon-like pads.
